Thursday, 7 July 2016

Proposed legislation allowing snooping may not be in line with EU rulings

The Minister for Justice Francis Fitzgerald has obtained cabinet approval in relation to legislation that will allow Gardai to intercept emails and social media
messages, which will include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social networks. The move comes after Gardai investigating organised crime raised concerns that criminals were communicating online, outside the remit of surveillance laws.

There is concern that the proposed legislation will not be in line with a ruling of the European Court of Justice which effectively through out a proposal for similar legislation. We cannot foresee the implications such legislation will have on privacy rights or data protection issues. Furthermore such legislation may not be in line with EU rulings.